Albania isn’t a very popular first choice of destination for most travelers, especially for vanlifers. And after visiting Albania myself, I can admit now that this country holds a dear place in my heart. The kind people that smiled and waved at us while we drove past them, the amazing places we have been to, the atmosphere – everything made this country a perfect, unique travel destination. So let’s dive into the 5 places we visited in Albania with a motorhome!
Shkodër
Shkodër, a city in the northwest part of Albania, was the first city that we visited in Albania. Unfortunately, while we were there, it was early December and the rainy season was in full mode including a huge thunderstorm which didn’t allow us to explore all the places that we were looking forward to – Rozafa Castle and Skadar Lake. But we still managed to walk around the town, eat a delicious meal at a local restaurant, meet the kindest people, and see the Xhamia e Madhe – Ebu Bekr mosque. From the short walk around the city, I can say that I will definitely include this place the next time that I will get a chance to come back to Albania and explore it more.
Tirana
Tirana is the most vibrant capital of all the capitals I have ever visited. The rainy season finally came to an end and we enjoyed sunny and warm December days. The city might feel a bit chaotic at first, considering how the driving is on the roads, which we found to be pretty unpredictable and crazy. But when you start to explore the city, it’s such a unique place, with so much history, interesting architecture, and outstanding sights to take in – Skanderbeg Square, Et’hem Bey Mosque, and the Pyramid of Tirana to mention a few.
Berat
Berat or a “Town of a Thousand Windows” is one of the most interesting and picturesque cities in Albania. The houses that are built on the cliffs making an interesting view from afar also earned the famous name for the city. Berat is such a wonderful city with a fairytale-like old town which is also a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Berat Castle overlooking the city below, making this city a truly unforgettable place to visit.
Gjirokaster
Gjirokaster, a town in the southern part of Albania, not far from the border with Greece, is a truly magical town. We visited the town at Christmas time and the Christmas lights and ornaments made it such a film-like town getaway. The old town part is small but very lovely and I would also recommend climbing up to the Castle of Gjirokaster for breathtaking views of the town below. A castle visit costs about 5 Euros or 600 Lek for both museum and castle exploring.
Benja Hot Springs
This was the first time we ever had a chance to enjoy hot springs in the wild and it was wonderful. In late December there weren’t many people, in fact, we could enjoy the hot springs completely by ourselves which was marvelous. The area is so beautiful with mountains and a shallow river running close by the hot springs and the bridge from the rocks makes the scenery even more stunning.
It was fairly easy to drive there, just the last couple of hundred meters the road was bumpy but we made it with the motorhome without many problems. It was also possible to camp there overnight and we took the chance and happily stayed for two nights.
To say that I can’t wait to go back to Albania and explore it more would be an understatement. I fell in love with how at ease the country felt overall, how the culture is so captivating, the nature outstanding, and how life goes on there completely differently than in the neighboring countries, making Albania such an interesting destination. I would love next time to delve into more of the country’s seaside, the famous beaches, and the mountains which we didn’t explore much of.
If you are wondering what to know about Albania before traveling there, click here to read about 10 things to know before traveling to Albania!
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